Wolf's (no bean) is a preferred brand by a number of Texan friends of mine. On the other hand, here's something if you don't mind a LITTLE cooking and you have the right ingredients on hand: McCormick's Tex-Mex Chili Mix. I keep ground beef frozen half pound packages in the freezer for easy microwave defrosting; this dish goes from starting to defrost the beef to ready to serve in about half an hour. I add extra mexican oregano and cumin, and sometimes substitute 2 pounds of ground beef for the pound of beef and the can of beans; also, I add a teaspoon or two of masa harina (I buy a 5 pound bag for $2, put as much as I can in a quart container, and toss the rest) at the beginning of the cooking cycle.

Bart

I'm not sure if you can get it in New Jersey but, look for "Wick Fowler's 2 alarm" brand of chili fixuns. If you can't get it, google their website and order some to make chili with. You'll thank me. Wick Fowler and Frank X. Tolbert were the guy's that started the Teriligua Texas Chili-Cookoff. The Wick Fowler chili package has all the packets you'll need to make real Texas award winning chili. I think all you add is tomato sauce, water and of course, yer chili meat. I usually add some fresh pressed garlic, too. Trust me on this one.

I just heard the venerable, old A&P has gone "belly up". I grew up with the A&P stores and after all these years, it's a damn shame!

Don't count A&P out just yet. They declared Chapter 11 (reorganization). Its true that they closed 25 stores along the Eastern Seaboard in October, and sold some others to Big Y. They will use Chapter 11 to get out of leases they are stuck with. I read some reports by business reporters that they might close more stores. At least A&P is not getting slaughtered by WalMart and Target as in some other areas of the country.

Mellow, I know that Ranch Style are a spiced up Pinto but... they taste nothing like a regular pinto. And their juice will change the flavor of any chili. Wanna really spice things up use the Jalapeno Ranch beans.

To just eat tha beans I usually mix a can each of the reg, Sweet onion, and Jalapeno. The Jalapeno Ranch Style are REAL spicy!

Yall don't get me wrong. I am not saying to add beans, of any kind, to any homemade Texas Style chili. But added to canned chili is well...??? Hey it's canned chili. Do what you want w/ it.

I haven't noticed a flavor difference based on the use of regular pintos, Ranch, or Bush's chili beans, but other chili-heads (including the inimitable PapaJoe8) may well taste a difference. However, there's one thing for sure. I better not ever detect even one bean in hot dog chili.

Ranch makes regular pintos. And plackeyed peas, and both w/ jalapenos. I wonder if it is the Ranch brand pintos you are thinking about Mellow?

Hot dogs and beans??? I had this requested to cook for a wedding reception. I can Ranch original, sweet onion, and jalapeno, mixed w/ 3 cans of Pork n' Beans, and 3 packs of John Morrel cheep hot dogs. My take on Beans and Wieners. I made about 4 x this mix. I know, I know... mighta bean a noisy honeymoon? :~) Joe

I'd be surprised if the reception itself wasn't noisy, PapaJoe8. Hope you had lots of Febreze candles on the scene. Actually, I love beans & wieners and chili & wieners (we're home to the chopped wiener plate, you know). Just no beans in hot dog chili sauce. BAHA!

I've used Ranch Style® brand, if that's what you mean, but I've only seen Ranch Style® Original around these here parts, pardner.

Armour might be the same as Armour Star. It's been a while since I've purchased a can.

I like Ranch Style beans in any chili. Don't remember what brand it is but there's one called Texas beans and it's about the same as Ranch Style pintos. I do like jalapenos in any chili to spice it up a bit.

My Texan friends say that you can have beans on the side of chili, or, if you really want, you can mix the beans with the chili AFTER cooking, but you should never cook the chili with the beans in it. Note that I personally routinely ignore that advice, unless I'm making my special from scratch chili (takes about 1 - 1.5 hours prep, and about 8 hours in the slow cooker).

Well I was finally able to find Wolf Brand Chili in Big Blue Country at a Family Dollar store. No beans (With beans not offered. Can you even buy it with beans?) Tried it as a topping on some Bisquick complete roasted garlic and cheese biscuits. Not bad. An under $2 cheapo lunch. Next time tho' I'm adding beans!

Thanks Mellow! I have jumped off a few small clifs at Marble Falls. My 1st. trip, and I still remember, was when I was 4 years old.

Jim, Wolf does also come w/ beans. But you can always add some Ranch Style Beans if you can find those. I prefer that mix over Wolf w/ Beans. You can add the exact amount of Ranch beans to your liking that way. Joe

The local Piggly Wiggly has started carrying Wolf and this afternoon I tried it for the first time. I chose "with beans" and for a canned chili it's pretty good, with just enough heat to get the lips and tongue tingling.

Before I left Texas for my final journey to Upstate NY this year I made arrangements for Wolf Brand Chili to be bought and shipped to me. I had tried most canned chili available in my new area, some were not even edible (at least to me). But I knew I would definitely miss winter without a good frito pie and hot dogs with Wolf Brand Chili. This week however I have found Wolf Brand at our local Target. Can't wait to try it on my Chili Taste Testing Team- my grandchildren.

Well I was finally able to find Wolf Brand Chili in Big Blue Country at a Family Dollar store. No beans (With beans not offered. Can you even buy it with beans?) Tried it as a topping on some Bisquick complete roasted garlic and cheese biscuits. Not bad. An under $2 cheapo lunch. Next time tho' I'm adding beans!

In yesterday's flier for a local store chain - Weis Markets - they had Wolf Chili with beans at 4/$5. I will be buying some this week to try out.

I do not understand. What is this propensity for this urge to put beans in chilli? Cheap meat is not that expensive. I would rather take an ass whoopin' than have to eat chilli with beans...just sayin'